We immigrated here in 1952 and that was the law. Immigrants had to have the promise of a job, and American sponsors who would cover their expenses (medical, housing, etc.) for the first five years should the immigrants require assistance.,.near impossible requirements. Fortunately, my Dad, brother, and mother arrived at ll:00AM and all hit the streets, on foot, by noon looking for work. I went to the home of our sponsors (I was 12). Both parents and my brother never arrived home until after 5:00PM, all getting jobs and being employed that same day. And fortunately, I’m 75 now, none of us were ever a burden on our sponsors or the government. But it was a different America then.
Same story with my parents, about your age. I’m first-generation American. After Ted Kennedy purposely destroyed the country in 1965, by discriminating against hard-working Europeans, who had to speak English, know the Constitution, be healthy, be responsible, have sponsors, etc., nothing has been the same.